Vancouver: Australia made a strong start to their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a commanding 2-0 victory over Türkiye in their Group D opener at Vancouver on Sunday morning.
First-half star Nestory Irankunda and second-half substitute Connor Metcalfe scored one goal each to secure a comfortable win for the Socceroos, who will now face hosts the United States in their next Group D clash with confidence.
Australia also saw an impressive World Cup debut performance from 22-year-old goalkeeper Patrick Beach, who replaced experienced custodian Mat Ryan. The young goalkeeper silenced critics with a composed display, making several key saves to deny Türkiye, including efforts from Arda Güler and Abdülkerim Bardakcı.
The breakthrough came in the 27th minute when Irankunda produced a powerful strike after breaking through Türkiye’s defensive line, giving Australia a 1-0 lead. The goal shifted momentum firmly in Australia’s favour as they controlled large portions of the first half.
Türkiye tried to respond with attacking pressure, but Beach stood firm between the posts, ensuring Australia went into half-time with their lead intact.
In the second half, Australia continued to threaten on the counterattack. Connor Metcalfe sealed the victory with a brilliant solo effort, carrying the ball from midfield before finishing calmly with his left foot inside the box to make it 2-0.
The goal effectively ended Türkiye’s hopes of a comeback and confirmed a strong opening win for the Australian side.
With this result, Australia begin their Group D campaign on a positive note and move into a strong position in the standings ahead of their high-profile clash against the United States.
